LEAD Upstate holds ninth annual law enforcement appreciation event  

LEAD Upstate gives the community the opportunity to say thank you to all law enforcement personnel in Greenville County including Greenville, Greer, Travelers Rest, Mauldin, Simpsonville, and Fountain Inn.

LEAD 2023 was held on Friday, September 15 and is said to be the largest “thank you” to law enforcement officers in Greenville County.

“LEAD Upstate was launched in 2015 with the goal of bringing the community and law enforcement together in the name of appreciation and gratitude. LEAD Upstate gives the community an opportunity to say thank you to all law enforcement personnel in Greenville County,” said Seabrook Marchant, founder of LEAD Upstate and President/Broker in Charge, Marchant Real Estate, Inc.

The event has grown considerably each year and this year it is estimated that close to 600 officers attended the event. Officers lined up before sun-up to drive through the loop at the Greenville Downtown Airport to receive a variety of items including a Valor bag with specially selected items and a value of approximately $150, LEAD 2023 Challenge coin, LEAD 2023 t-shirt, coffee, water, Chick Fil A biscuit, Nothing Bundt Cake and more.

“LEAD Upstate has truly made a remarkable impact in our community by fostering unity and appreciation between our citizens and law enforcement,” said Greenville Sheriff Hobart Lewis. “We are grateful for their unwavering support.”

The work leading up to this day is a yearlong effort securing sponsors – both corporate and individual and seeking prize donations from businesses for prize drawings that took place earlier in the week (Sept.11-14).

“Events like LEAD 2023 are vital in strengthening the bond between law enforcement and the community we serve,” said Greenville Police Chief Howie Thompson. “The heartfelt ‘thank you’ and gestures of gratitude remind us of the positive impact we can make together.”

LEAD Upstate could not execute on such a large scale initiative like this without the support of generous sponsors and individuals who contributed and volunteered. Special thanks is given to the following sponsors:

• Founding Sponsor – Marchant Real Estate
• Presenting Sponsor and VIP Reception Sponsor – ReWa
• Premier Sponsors – Jeff Lynch Appliances and Marchant Law Firm
• K-9 Sponsors – ProSource and United Community Bank
• In-Kind Sponsors – Chick-Fil-A, Delta Apparel, Greenville Downtown Airport, One Nation Coffee, and Pepsi of Greenville

2024 will mark 10 years of the initiative launched by LEAD Upstate, and plans are already being made for a bigger and better event to show appreciation to local law enforcement officers.

About LEAD Upstate:

The goal of LEAD Upstate is to bring the community and law enforcement together in the name of appreciation and gratitude by giving the community an opportunity to say thank you to all the law enforcement personnel in Greenville County including Greenville, Greer, Travelers Rest, Mauldin, Simpsonville, & Fountain Inn. Partnering with sponsors and supported by volunteers LEAD hosts an annual “thank you event” for Upstate law enforcement officers. LEAD Upstate is a registered 501(c)3 organization. For more information about sponsorships and volunteer opportunities go to www.Leadupstate.com.